The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGE

  • Editors to FG: Don’t play politics with security

    Editors to FG: Don’t play politics with security

    THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday advised the Federal Government not to further politicise the security challenges confronting the nation but collaborate with all Nigerians to put an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The group spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital during its Standing Committee meeting.

    Its President, Femi Adesina, urged the Federal Government to step up actions to end the current security challenges in the country.

    Adesina told journalists at the Government House that “the tardiness of the Federal Government in handling the abduction of the female students in Chibok was because it was blaming the All Progressives Congress (APC) instead of talking of rescuing the girls.”

    In his response, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha maintained that Nigerians should come together irrespective of political or religious inclination to fight terrorism.

  • Editors to Confab delegates: prioritise security

    Editors to Confab delegates: prioritise security

    •Govt urged to partner the West for improved security

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja to give security of life and property of Nigerians utmost attention in their deliberations.

    NGE President Femi Adesina spoke yesterday in Lagos when he reacted to the Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast where over 70 persons were killed.

    Adesina, who said Nigeria is on the edge of the precipice, urged the delegates and other well-meaning Nigerians to salvage the nation from disintegration.

    He said: “I believe the issue of security should be topmost in the agenda of the delegates because there is trouble in the country. If they sit there and they don’t talk about security, what else will they be talking about?

    “I think nobody needs to tell them that security should be a burning issue they should be discussing at the conference. Those who are there are very responsible people and I believe it is something they will take up.”

    The Sun former editor urged insurgents to stop their bloodletting.

    Adesina said the Federal Government was probably doing its best to address the situation, adding that it was obvious the government could not handle the situation alone.

    “I believe the government is doing its best but the Yoruba have a saying that the water might sometimes be much more than the yam flour. So, in that situation, what can anybody do?

    “But I will just want to appeal to anybody behind this insurgency and terrorism to have mercy on the country. The country is on the edge of the precipice and we must do everything possible to salvage it,” he said.

    Also, frontline lawyer, Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams (SAN), has urged the Federal Government to partner Western powers to fight terrorism and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

    The lawyer spoke in Ikeja, Lagos, following yesterday’s bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja.

    He said: “We need to take the offer of the Western powers, like the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, even Russia, in fighting terrorism. This is because it is clear from all indications that the Federal Government cannot handle the situation alone.

    “I think the President himsef realises that we don’t have the equipment and personnel to do so. It is a global phenomenon.”

    Rotimi-Williams condemned the Nyanyan motor park blast on innocent Nigerians.

    The lawyer noted that it was glaring that the government could not handle the situation alone.

    He said Nigeria should accept a security partnership with Western powers so that acts of terrorism and Boko Haram activities could end.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said the Abuja blast and others in several parts of the country did not warrant the call for the removal of the security chiefs, who were recently appointed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    According to him, the new security chiefs should be given enough time to perform their task.

    Rotimi-Williams said: “I once suggested that the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Azubuike Ihejirika, be removed, and I was justified because he was subsequently removed. Now, given the latest attack, I think we need to give the new security chiefs more time to settle down.”

    Also, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja to give security of life and property of Nigerians utmost attention in their deliberations.

    NGE President Femi Adesina spoke yesterday in Lagos when he reacted to the Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast where over 70 persons were killed.

    Adesina, who said Nigeria is on the edge of the precipice, urged the delegates and other well-meaning Nigerians to salvage the nation from disintegration.

    He said: “I believe the issue of security should be topmost in the agenda of the delegates because there is trouble in the country. If they sit there and they don’t talk about security, what else will they be talking about?

    “I think nobody needs to tell them that security should be a burning issue they should be discussing at the conference. Those who are there are very responsible people and I believe it is something they will take up.”

     

    The Sun former editor urged insurgents to stop their bloodletting.

    Adesina said the Federal Government was probably doing its best to address the situation, adding that it was obvious the government could not handle the situation alone.

    “I believe the government is doing its best but the Yoruba have a saying that the water might sometimes be much more than the yam flour. So, in that situation, what can anybody do?

    “But I will just want to appeal to anybody behind this insurgency and terrorism to have mercy on the country. The country is on the edge of the precipice and we must do everything possible to salvage it,” he said.

     

  • Editors want FG to diversify economy

    Editors want FG to diversify economy

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged the Federal Government to embark on sustained diversification of the nation’s economy in a bid to free it from further dependence on oil and gas.

    The call was contained in a seven-point communiqué signed by the NGE Secretary, Isaac Ighure, at the end of a four-day conference held in Asaba, Delta, from August 21 to August 24.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 9th All Nigerian Editors’ Conference with the theme, “Nigeria Beyond Oil: Role of the Editor,’’ was chaired by a one-time Ogun Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

    The guild suggested that agriculture, tourism and other non-oil sources should be “intensively explored to avert the catastrophic consequences of a future without oil.”

    The statement said financial institutions and funding agencies should provide increased funding to non-oil sectors, especially agriculture, small and medium enterprises and manufacturing.

    “It is imperative for Nigeria to embark on deliberate and sustained diversification of its economy, weaning itself from dependence on oil and gas as a major revenue earner.

    “There should be an integrated approach to diversification of the economy by involving all sectors, curbing corruption and wastage, and improving governance to ensure the survival of the country beyond oil.’’

    The editors also called on the government to fast track efforts toward improving infrastructure, particularly in the power sector, transportation and telecommunications.

    They stressed the need for the country to add value to oil and gas resources through the production of by-products for local consumption and export.

     

  • NGE urges due process in investigation of journalists

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Sunday urged due process in the investigation of journalists for any offence.

    In a communiqué it issued at the end of its Standing Committee Meeting in Ilorin, the Guild decried what it called a siege to the media.

    The communiqué was signed by Messrs Femi Adesina and Isaac Ighure, the Guild President and General Secretary, respectively.

    It said that the latest siege were the harassment and detention of journalists of the Leadership newspaper.

    The Guild said that, while it was not against investigation of journalists when and where necessary, such investigation must conform to the basic norms of due process permissible in a democracy.

    It urged the government to depart from the old ways, whereby journalists were arrested and detained arbitrarily.

    The Guild observed that the security agencies were doing their best, but urged them to do more to stem the worsening climate of insecurity in the country.

    It noted with regret that in recent days, a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chudi Nwike, and a serving Police Commissioner in Kwara State, Mr Chinwike Asadu, were killed in bizarre circumstances.

    “In Lagos, a Local Government Chairman, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, was abducted, and bombs still go off with reckless abandon in some parts of the country,’’ the association said.

    It, however, acknowledged the effort of the Federal Government to tackle the situation, and welcomed any initiative that would engender lasting peace in the country.

    “In the face of the reported growth in the economy, which has been acknowledged by relevant bodies including the World Bank, the Guild urges the Federal Government to ensure that such economic growth translates to the creation of more jobs and wealth as a way of tackling rising poverty and unemployment.’’

    It noted that poverty and unemployment had reached crisis point in Nigeria, noting that it was through job creation that the people would benefit directly from the reported economic growth.

    “In view of the forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency that this year would experience yet another bout of flooding, the Guild urges the states and Federal Government to take proactive steps to avoid a repeat of the flooding experienced last year.’’

    The Guild thanked the Kwara State Government for its hospitality and hosting of the Standing Committee Meeting.